Baseball
Top 10 Baseball Games of the 2021 Season: JSZ Summer Recap Series
The 2021 baseball season brought an unprecedented level of anticipation, with teams chomping at the bit to return to the field and chase a state title. What transpired was one of the best seasons in recent memory for NJ baseball. Our summer recap series continues with the top 10 baseball games of the year. No. 10: Bishop Eustace wins Diamond Classic The Crusaders capped off an impressive run through the bracket by shutting down a red-hot Williamstown squad to take home the championship in the 47th Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic. JSZ’s Mike Frankel was on the call: No. 9: Panzini’s 12 K gem powers RBC to SCT title Shane Panzini turned in one of his best performances of the season, tossing six shutout innings and striking out twelve to help Red Bank Catholic win the Shore Conference Tournament title. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis was on the call: No. 8: Coppola K’s 17 against rival Cedar Grove Pierce Coppola found another gear on the mound, striking out 17 in Verona’s 4-0 win over rival Cedar Grove. JSZ’s Jay Cook was on the call: No. 7: Mainland walks it off against Don Bosco under the lights in Trenton Mainland brought some of its “Mustang Magic” to Arm & Hammer Stadium in Trenton, walking it off in dramatic fashion against Don Bosco. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis was on the call: No. 6: Joe Stanzione slugs Midd. South to Group 4 title game Joe Stanzione made his mark in Middletown South baseball lore in the Group 4 semifinals. Stanzione hit a pair of home runs and followed it up with a walk off single to send the Eagles to the state title game. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis was on the call: No. 5: St. Joe’s (Montvale) wins state title, secures #1 spot in NJ The Green Knights capped off an incredible 2021 season by winning its first Non-Public A state title since 2004 and securing the number one ranking in the state. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis was on the call: No. 4: Ocean City wins a marathon to bring home 1st state title They say you never forget your first, and in Ocean City, they will never forget the 14-inning marathon that brought the Red Raiders its first state title in program history. JSZ’s Mike Frankel was on the call: No. 3: Voorhees walks it off to win Group 2 state title The Vikings were down, but far from out as they put together a two-run, two-out rally in the seventh to bring home the Group 2 state title. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis was on the call: No. 2: Middlesex walks it off in 13 innings to win Group 1 state title Middlesex thrived in dramatic, late-game situations all postseason, capping off a run for the ages with a walk off win in 13 innings to bring home the Group 1 state title. JSZ’s James Mooney was on the call: No. 1: St. Augustine storms back to win SJ title The showdown between St. Augustine and Red Bank Catholic for the Non-Public A South title had everything and then some. A gutsy steal from Josiah Ragsdale and a gritty performance from Kyle Neri proved to be the difference in the walk off win for the Hermits. JSZ’s Mike Frankel was on the call:
MLB 2021 Draft: NJ Talent Shines!
Get ready to meet the next generation of baseball’s stars! New Jersey baseball players are very much at the forefront of the 2021 MLB Draft and JSZ will keep you updated on the Garden State’s players who get picked. Stay tuned throughout the next three days as we track where players are headed. The 2021 MLB Draft was headlined by four New Jersey high school senior pitchers who had their name called over the three days of selections. In addition, two SEC pitchers who made their name on New Jersey diamonds were also part of a stellar draft for the Garden State. Watch JSZ’s highlight videos of the newest pros! Round 1 Pick 2: Jack Leiter (Texas Rangers) From starring at Delbarton to shining in the SEC at Vanderbilt, Jack Leiter is now one of the highest drafted NJ players ever. Leiter displayed his elite fastball and knee-buckling off-speed pitches for the Commodores in 18 starts this season. A Summit native and son of MLB veteran Al Leiter, Jack Leiter will bring big-time stuff to the Lone Star state. Round 1 Pick 26: Chase Petty (Minnesota Twins) Chase Petty turned in a dynamic performance every time he took the mound for Mainland in 2021. He finished with 99 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched, throwing a fastball that sat in the upper 90’s and topped out over 100 MPH. The Twins take Petty 26th overall, as the Mustangs star now begins his journey with Minnesota. Round 2 Pick 37: Anthony Solometo (Pittsburgh Pirates) The Bishop Eustace lefty was absolutely sensational in 2021, allowing just a single earned run in 33 innings. The lefty fanned 64 batters, finishing with double-digit strikeouts in each of his five starts. The Pirates plucked Solometo off the board with the first pick of Day 2 of the MLB Draft. Round 4 Pick 108: Shane Panzini (Kansas City Royals) Not only was Shane Panzini the best pitcher in the Shore Conference, he was also very much in the conversation among the elite arms in New Jersey’s entire high school Class of 2021. The Red Bank Catholic ace went 9-0 with 115 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings on the bump. His 0.46 ERA helped his Caseys win the Shore Conference Tournament while also making a deep run in the Non-Public A South state tournament. The MLB Draft process is truly unique. With Shane Panzini poised to go to the University of Virginia, the behind-the-scenes game leading up to his name being called by the Royals is fascinating. JSZ goes to the Panzini home in Spring Lake Heights to get reaction from the newest Kansas City Royal: Round 8 Pick 241: Mike Antico (St. Louis Cardinals) Colts Neck’s Mike Antico closed out a stellar five-year college baseball career and now has a professional opportunity in St. Louis. Antico played four years at St. John’s University before playing a fifth season at the University of Texas helping the Longhorns reach the 2021 College World Series. Antico hit .273 with 16 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, and 47 RBIs. He scored 69 runs and walked 63 times for Texas. Antico finished his career at St. John’s as a .332 hitter with 22 doubles, seven triples, and 13 home runs. He also had 67 RBIs, 44 stolen bases, and 108 runs scored. The 2016 graduate of Colts Neck has a signing bonus slot of $171,200. 14th Round Pick 410: Tyler Ras (Colorado Rockies) The 2018 graduate of Middletown North went on to a great SEC career at the University of Alabama earning his shot at the big leagues with the Rockies. We went back into the JSZ archives to show Ras when he was the Lions ace in high school: 20th Round Pick 603: Sean Hard (New York Yankees) The 2021 high school baseball season was the year of the pitcher and St. Joe-Montvale’s Sean Hard was among the very best in the Garden State. Hard was an incredible 8-0 with a 0.28 ERA and 87 strikeouts to lead the Green Knights to the Non-Public “A” state championship. The Boston College commit becomes the fourth New Jersey high school pitcher to be selected in the 2021 MLB Draft . Check out JSZ’s highlight reel from his stellar senior season”
Vote Now for JSZ’s Web Gem of the Year!
There’s not much that’s more rewarding than making a stellar play in the field to save a run, end an inning or wowing the crowd. JSZ’s cameras were all around the state this spring and we captured some top-shelf web gems during the 2021 baseball and softball seasons. Take a look at the highlight reel, then cast as many votes as you’d like for the Web Gem of the Year! Voting will stay open until Monday at 3:00 p.m. Voting for the Web Gem of the Year closes out our postseason polls for plays of the year. We also highlighted the top boys lacrosse goal, top girls lacrosse goal and the clutch play of the season. Thanks to everyone who voted and followed along with Jersey Sports Zone for the entire 2021 season.
NJ All-Stars Take 2021 Carpenter Cup
Fans flocked to South Philly as the Carpenter Cup Classic returned to Citizens Bank Park after taking a hiatus in 2020. The annual summer event that showcases the best baseball talent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware did not disappoint as Tri-Cape hoisted their first Championship trophy in the event and with appearances from players like MLB prospect, Chase Petty of Mainland, this year’s line up was one you did not want to miss. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the story: Check out the highlights from Tri-Cape’s 5-3 win over Mercer County below: The JSZ high school baseball Game of the Week is made possible by OceanFirst Bank!
Vote Now for JSZ’s Clutch Play of the Year
Athletes from all over the Garden State came up clutch during the spring season. We’ve taken the best clutch moments captured by our JSZ cameras, from a variety of spring sports, and we want you to vote on the best one! Take a look at the highlight reel, and then cast your votes as often as you’d like until Sunday at 3:00 pm! Continue to cast your votes for boys and girls lacrosse goals of the year until those polls close as well. On Saturday, we’ll roll out our top Web Gems of the spring!
Tri-Cape Wins its First Phillies Carpenter Cup Title
Tri-Cape knocks off Mercer County in an all-New Jersey Carpenter Cup final in our OceanFirst Bank Game of the Week! Tri-Cape 5 Mercer County 3 The best of New Jersey baseball was on full display in the finals of the 2021 Phillies Carpenter Cup. Tri-Cape (players from the Tri-County Conference and Cape-Atlantic League) made it a day to remember, defeating Mercer County to win its first Carpenter Cup championship in tournament history. Highland’s Adam Aquilino capped off a four-run, two-out rally in the third inning with a two-RBI single. Hammonton’s Jared Beebe, Holy Spirit’s Trevor Cohen, and Ocean City’s Gannon Brady each knocked in a run in the win. Hun’s Ben Petrone hit a solo home run in the loss for Mercer County. Woodstown’s Chase Swain was named the tournament’s most valuable player. JSZ’s James Mooney and Nery Rodriguez provide team coverage from Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia: The JSZ high school baseball Game of the Week is made possible by OceanFirst Bank!
Watch Monday 6.21 JSZ Carpenter Cup Baseball Highlights
A pair of NJ teams advanced to the Phillies Carpenter Cup semifinals at Citizens Bank Park, with both looking to secure a spot in Thursday’s final. Enjoy the highlights! Tri-Cape 14 Inter-Ac/Independents (PA) 3 Tri-Cape (players from the Tri-County Conference and the Cape-Atlantic League) scored early and often to roll into the Carpenter Cup title […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
OC Wins First State Title in 14-inning Marathon
The final game of the 2021 season was an unforgettable clash between Ocean City and Pascack Valley. Ocean City 3 Pascack Valley 2 (14 innings) | Group 3 State Final The Red Raiders captured the first state title in program history, outlasting the Panthers in a 14-inning thriller on Sunday at Bob DeMeo Field at Veterans Park. Jack Perry’s bunt single proved to be the difference. It was one of two RBIs on the day for Perry. Maryland commit Duke McCarron earned the win on the mound. McCarron, Fordham commit Gannon Brady and Boston College commit Matt Nunan combined to allow just five hits on the day for OC. Charlie Saul homered for PV in the loss. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and reaction from a historic day for Ocean City: Baseball state final coverage is made possible by OceanFirst Bank.
Watch Saturday 6.19 JSZ Baseball State Final Highlights
Believe it or not, but the final day of the high school baseball season is here. It’s been two years since group champions were crowned and Jersey Sports Zone will be there to provide in-depth coverage and highlights from the biggest day of the season. Each of the four group championship games from Veterans Park in Hamilton will be highlighted as part of our OceanFirst Bank Game of the Week series. Stay tuned throughout the day for the highlights! Middletown South 6 Montclair 0 | Group 4 Championship Middletown South sophomore ace Ben Schild was masterful on the big stage. Schild tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts to lead the Eagles to the Group 4 championship. Midd. South gave Schild plenty of room to work with in the title game, too, as the Eagles brought six runs across the dish. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the all the highlights and reaction: Middlesex 4 New Providence 3 (13 Innings) | Group 1 Championship The Blue Jays had its late-game mojo working overtime in a marathon win against the Pioneers to take home the sixth state tile in program history. Senior Mark Geist delivered the championship-winning RBI single in the 13th inning as Middlesex (22-4) walked it off for the third-straight game this postseason. Senior Ryan Vollmer sent the game into extras with a RBI single in the seventh inning. Junior Nick Bisaccia knocked in a pair of runs in the loss for New Providence (17-8) JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction: Voorhees 3 Hanover Park 2 | Group 2 Championship Down to their final out in the bottom of the 7th, Voorhees gets an RBI single by Truman Richter followed by a walk-off RBI single to left by Eric Axelsen to give the Vikings its first baseball state title. Cole McGourty came on in relief of Richter in the third inning after the Virginia Tech commit could no longer pitch due to elbow tightness but he stayed in the game and delivered the game tying hit. JSZ”s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from a thriller in Hamilton Township: Thanks to our new partnership with OceanFirst Bank, Jersey Sports Zone is able to bring you great highlights, in-depth coverage and all the incredible post-game reaction from top games all season long!
After HBP to Face, Trevor Smith Powers Hanover Park to Win!
When you think of the phrase Jersey Tough, this is what comes to mind. Hanover Park first baseman Trevor Smith fully embodied that statement Monday. In the sixth inning of their Group 2 semifinal game against Mahwah, Smith was hit by a fastball in the face. After moments on the ground, he got up on his own power and returned to the field. Smith later provided an offensive spark for Hanover Park in the seventh inning by cracking a two-run double. The Hornets will now look to win the Group 2 state championship later this weekend. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the story of a determined baseball player:
Watch Monday 6.14 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
JSZ brings you a trio of state semifinal games – one from Bergen County and a pair from Monmouth County. Subscribe with the JSZ All-Access Pass to watch it all now! Middletown South 4 Clearview 3 | Central/South Group 4 Semifinal Joe Stanzione blasted two home runs and delivered the walk-off RBI single in the […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
OC Tops Rival Mainland for SJG3 Title
Ocean City 6 Mainland 1 | Group 3 South Final The Red Raiders vs. the Mustangs is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of South Jersey, and Ocean City beat Mainland to win the sectional championship. Fordham commit Gannon Brady led the way, throwing a complete game five-hitter, while striking out nine. Brady also […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Friday 6.11 JSZ State Baseball Playoff Highlights
It’s sectional final Friday in New Jersey high school baseball world. JSZ takes you around the state with some incredible finishes and memorable performances from the sectional finals. Millburn 1 Cranford 0 | North 2 Group 3 Final This was a game neither Millburn or Cranford will forget for some time. Cranford trailed by one […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Thursday 6.10 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
Sectional titles were up for grabs on the Non-Public side, with sectional semifinal action continuing on the public side. Enjoy the highlights! St. Augustine 6 Red Bank Catholic 5 (8 innings) | Non-Public A South Final The Hermits fell behind 5-0 early, but chipped away to make it 5-4. With St. Augustine down to its […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Wednesday 6.9 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
JSZ has continuing coverage from two of yesterday’s weather-delayed sectional semifinals. Check back throughout the night as the highlights come in! Clearview 5 Lenape 0 | South Group 4 The Pioneers punched a ticket to the South Group 4 finals, blanking the tenth-seeded Indians in a game that took two days to complete due to […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Petty K’s 17 to Lead Mainland to SJG3 Final
Mainland 3 Moorestown 2 | Group 3 South Semifinal Making his first start of the postseason, Chase Petty pitched the top-seeded Mustangs into a sectional title game. The Florida commit struck out 17 before reaching the pitch count limit. Mark Elliott added one more strikeout to end it. Alex Agigian drove in a pair of […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Hard Handles Don Bosco, SJR Heads To Sectional Final
Sean Hard has been one of New Jersey’s most consistent and dominant pitchers all season long. The St. Joe’s (Mont.) right-hander led the Green Knights to an 8-0 win over Don Bosco in the Non-Public A North sectional semifinals after the most efficient outing of his season. This was the fourth time in two weeks […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Panzini Powers RBC to Sectional Final
Red Bank Catholic handed Bishop Eustace its first loss of the season in our OceanFirst Bank Game of the Week! Red Bank Catholic 6 Bishop Eustace 1 | Non-Public A South Semifinal Virginia commit Shane Panzini was dominant on the mound for the Caseys, throwing a complete game three-hitter. Panzini finished with 12 strikeouts and just one walk. The senior also helped power RBC at the plate, crushing a monster solo home run and finishing the game with two RBIs. Frank Scrivanic went 3-4 with an RBI, while Alex Stanyek and Shane Andrus also drove in runs in the victory for the Caseys. RBC (21-3) advances to face St. Augustine on Thursday in the Non-Public South A final on Thursday. David Alleva had a pair of hits for the Crusaders (21-1) in the loss. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and reaction from Pennsauken: The JSZ Game of the Week is made possible by OceanFirst Bank.
St. Joe-Metuchen’s GMC title inspired by fallen Falcon
When St. Joe’s won the GMC title on Sunday in East Brunswick, the Falcons were doing it for more than themselves. Watch JSZ’s story on Judge Esther Salas and Mark Anderl’s return to the diamond to honor their son Dan Anderl was a 2018 graduate of St. Joseph-Metuchen and a student at Catholic University when he was shot and killed at his family home in July, 2020. The son of a federal judge, Dan and his father were shot by a 72-year old lawyer who was targeting female judges. Mark Anderl endured 13 surgeries following his wounds. Dan did not survive. Esther Salas and Mark Anderl were on hand at East Brunswick Tech to watch the Falcons win the 2021 GMC championship in a 2-0 win over South Brunswick. Their son was a varsity baseball player for two seasons and his effect on the team still resonates today. Following the victory, the championship ball was given to Dan’s parents. Anderl’s #11 jersey has been in the St. Joe’s dugout since the tragedy from the Last Dance World Series last summer to the return of high school baseball in the spring of 2021. During the beginning of the GMC Tournament, the school retired the jersey. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis tells the story of how a player impacted the community well beyond the diamond Click HERE to watch highlights of St. Joe-Metuchen’s 2-0 win over South Brunswick in the GMC Championship
St. Joe-Metuchen gets Goldan performance to win GMC
Andrew Goldan throws a gem to give the Falcons a 7th GMC baseball championship. Get your JSZ All-Access pass to watch all the highlights and post-game interviews from St. Joe-Metuchen’s title! St. Joe-Metuchen 2 South Brunswick 0 | GMC Tournament Championship Andrew Goldan threw 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball allowing just two hits and […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Saturday 6.5 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
Sectional quarterfinal action continues as the road to Veterans Park in Hamilton heats up! Enjoy the highlights! Marlboro 7 Manalapan 4 | Central Group 4 Mark Capell pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 7th to give the #9 seed a win over the top seed and defending sectional champ. […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Friday 6.4 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
The sectional quarterfinals continue and we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned throughout the night as the highlights come in! Red Bank Catholic 4 St. Joe-Metuchen 0 | Non-Public A South Shane Panzini hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first and came on in relief to strike out all four batters he faced […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Healy Wins Week 6 South Jersey Game Ball
Oakcrest standout Gavin Healy provided plenty of fireworks against Cedar Creek. The junior went 3-5 with two home runs, a double, and 4 RBIs in the win for the Falcons. Healy received nearly 7,500 votes to win the NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Week 6 Game Ball. South Jersey Game Balls are brought to you by NJM Insurance.
Watch Wednesday 6.2 JSZ Playoff Baseball Highlights
The NJSIAA sectional baseball playoffs are officially underway, and JSZ has cameras all over the state to capture the action from the first round! Marlboro 11 Monroe 4 | Central Group 4 (9) Marlboro kicked off the opening round of the Central Group 4 playoffs with an 11-4 upset victory over (8) Monroe (14-7). Tied at […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.